Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy in high myopia: a multicenter study.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
M Barak
Publications and source records attributed to M Barak.
Familial congenital micromelic dysplasia with dislocation of radius and distinct face: a new skeletal dysplasia syndrome.
Recently Maroteaux et al. [Am J Med Genet 32:371-375] described omodysplasia as a new distinct congenital bone disorder in 3 cases; autosomal dominant inheritance was suggested. In this same report, 2 other cases (patients 4 and 5) presented with the same facial and upper limb anomalies, but were also noted to have severe shortness of lower limbs. The authors considered all 5 cases to represent variable expressivity of the same disorder, namely, omodysplasia. Here we report 4 patients (3 survivors), offspring of consanguineous Arabic-Moslem couples. All presented at birth with severe short limb dwarfism and facial and radiologic appearance quite distinct from the first 3 patients of Maroteaux et al. [1989] with so-called omodysplasia. Thus, we suggest that our 4 cases and patients 4 and 5 of Maroteaux et al. [1989] represent a distinct, previously unpublished bone dysplasia.
Bone Diseases, Developmental↗
Neopterin augmentation of tumor necrosis factor production.
Gamma interferon (gamma-IFN), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-gamma or interleukin-2 (IL-2)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production by both macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), was increased in the presence of neopterin. Addition of neopterin caused an increased level of TNF alpha, but did not affect the kinetics of the TNF alpha production, which showed peak levels of cytotoxic activity 4 h after stimulatory treatment. Using anticytokine antibodies, we concluded that the neopterin effect was mainly gamma-IFN mediated, and only slightly affected by anti IL-2 receptor antibodies. The neopterin augmented TNF alpha production can be attributed to an immunological role for neopterin in the enhancement of cell-mediated immune (CMI) response.
Biopterins↗
A baby with a cervical "braid".
Among the anomalies and curiosities of nature, a braid-like cervical protrusion is a rare anatomical finding. Most similar reported cases of tail-like appendages have been observed in the sacrococcygeal or lumbar region. Herein we describe a newborn with a high cervical malformation located along the vertebral column, and its histological features. To our knowledge, this congenital anomaly has never been reported in the English literature.
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures↗
CA-15.3, TPA and MCA as markers for breast cancer.
Serum concentrations of CA-15.3, tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and mucinous-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) were measured in 327 women: 81 controls, 93 patients with benign breast disease, 46 patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer and 107 patients during breast cancer follow-up. CA-15.3 was elevated in 16% of the controls, in 29% of the patients with benign breast disease, in 65% of the breast cancer patients and in 74% of the follow-up patients. TPA was elevated in 4%, 11%, 36% and 75%, respectively. The corresponding figures for MCA were 10%, 8%, 30% and 64%. The highest sensitivity for cancer detection (74%) was obtained with a combination of CA-15.3 and TPA, while the specificity of this panel was 75%. The negative predictive value of these combined tests was 93%. MCA scored lower values, being only 30% sensitive. The CA-15.3/TPA panel may increase sensitivity compared with single marker tests and provide additional information for clinical evaluation.
Antigens, Neoplasm↗
Interleukin-2 and neopterin-induced neopterin release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by the mitogenic lectins, phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (conA), the lymphokine gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the pterin neopterin, caused an increased release of neopterin from those cells, with peak levels after 7 days of stimulation. In contrast to gamma-IFN, IL-2 and neopterin failed to induce neopterin release from purified macrophages. IL-2- and neopterin-induced release of neopterin from PBMC is not dependent on proliferation and is partially inhibited by the addition of anti gamma-IFN or anti IL-2 receptor. Neopterin autoinductive production can explain the amplificated neopterin release during activation of the cellular-mediated immune response (CMI), in spite of the decrease in the T helper cell subsets, which are the main gamma-IFN producers.
Biopterins↗
Excretion of urinary protein induced by extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy.
An investigation was carried out into renal injury caused by extracorporeal piezoelectric lithotripsy (EPL) using an EDAP lithotriptor. Four urinary proteins, with a molecular weight range of 160000-14500, immunoglobulin G (IgG), N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), albumin and lysozyme, were monitored in 27 patients 1 day before and 1, 7, 30, 90 and 180 days after unilateral EPL treatment. All patients had non-obstructive renal stones, previously untreated. Apart from 5 patients with stablised hypertension and 6 with persistent urinary infections due to the infected stones, all patients appeared healthy, as confirmed by clinical, haematological and biochemical investigations. Only albumin levels increased significantly 1 day after treatment; statistically nonsignificant increases and decreases were recorded in the levels of NAG and lysozome respectively. IgG was beyond the limit of detection (less than 0.5 mg%) in all patients. The albumin level returned to normal 7 days after treatment. The EPL-induced increase in albumin was recorded in 88% of patients, compared with increased levels of NAG in 46% and lysozyme in 64%, mainly in those with infected stones. These findings indicated a transient glomerular injury after EPL treatment.
Acetylglucosaminidase↗
The effect of immunomodulators on PHA or gamma-IFN induced release of neopterin from purified macrophages and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Immunomodulators cause changes in neopterin-release from purified macrophages or peripheral blood mononuclear cells by affecting the macrophage and T cell subsets activity, the intracellular cGMP/cAMP balance, or the intracellular pteridines-related biochemical pathways. Increased neopterin release was achieved by gamma-IFN or its inducers (PHA, IL-2), by interfering with the biopterin production by increased levels of cGMP or by decreasing the activity of the T suppressor cells. The released neopterin levels decreased due to decreased macrophage and T-helper cell activity or due to increased levels of cAMP. The in vitro effect of the immunomodulators has to be taken into account when assessing the neopterin levels in immunomodulators-treated patients.
Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
The use of a synthetic skin covering as a protective layer in the daily care of low birth weight infants.
Skin damage is often seen as a result of the use of adhesive ECG electrodes. The protective quality of a new synthetic dressing, Omiderm, was tested on 34 infants weighting 800-3850 g. In a controlled trial the amount of skin damage caused by heart monitoring electrodes was evaluated after 48 h in which Omiderm protected the infants' chest and after an additional 48 h without protection. Omiderm did not interfere with the heart monitoring process. Results showed significantly less damage in the protected areas. No toxic or allergic reactions were observed.
Humans↗
Binding of serum prostate antigen to concanavalin A in patients with cancer or hyperplasia of the prostate.
The percentage of nonglycosylated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in the serum of 15 prostate cancer patients and 15 patients with benign hyperplasia of the prostate. The larger part of serum PSA in both groups was glycosylated, but while in carcinoma of the prostate the mean percentage of nonglycosylated PSA was 38.4 +/- 6.5, in benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) only a mean of 14.2 +/- 4.3% of the PSA was nonglycosylated. These significantly higher results (p less than 0.001) suggest a different pattern of release of PSA from cancer cells and from hyperplastic or normal cells. Since in a part of the BPH we encounter elevations of PSA similar to the levels found in neoplasms, the degree of concanavalin A binding can provide an additional means in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions.
Antigens, Neoplasm↗
Evaluation of prostate-specific antigen as a marker for adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations were measured in samples from 437 subjects, including patients with prostate cancer, patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and patients with genitourinary cancer or benign genitourinary diseases other than prostatic, as well as patients who had undergone prostatectomy and healthy controls. PSA concentration was elevated (less than 10 ng/ml) in 84.4% of the patients with prostate cancer, in 14.1% of the patients with BPH, and in 10% of the patients with genitourinary cancer (as compared with 2% of the patients with benign genitourinary diseases). PSA concentration was not elevated in any of the patients who had undergone prostatectomy nor in the controls. In the same samples, the level of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) was increased (greater than 4 IU/L) in only 55.6% of the patients with prostate cancer and in 7.4% of the patients with BPH. According to these findings, the sensitivity of the test is 84.4% (55.6% for PAP) and the specificity is 92.9% (94.9% for PAP). The increase in PSA concentration in BPH correlates well with the prostate mass (gamma = 0.794), although there was no patient with a prostate weight higher than 30 gm and a PSA concentration lower than 5 ng/ml, and all patients with PSA concentrations lower than 4 ng/ml had prostate weight of less than 10 gm.
Acid Phosphatase↗
Neopterin measured in serum and tissue culture supernates by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay.
In this solid-phase competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay for neopterin (a product of activated macrophages) in serum or supernates of cell cultures, we incubate antiserum to neopterin with standards or samples in the presence of solid-phase-bound conjugate of carrier-neopterin. Incubation with second antibody labeled with peroxidase then follows, before reaction with substrate. Analytical recovery, precision, and sensitivity of this method are similar to those of other immunoassays. The assay range is between 0.4 and 100 micrograms of neopterin per liter. Results obtained by this method compared with those from a conventional radioimmunoassay gave a correlation coefficient of 0.974.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Simple technique for bedside peritoneal dialysis in neonates.
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Acute Kidney Injury↗
[Iniencephaly: a rare congenital malformation of the neural tube].
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Abnormalities, Multiple↗
Familial combined sinus node and atrioventricular conduction dysfunctions.
Eighteen members of a family were investigated for cardiac conduction abnormalities following the discovery of a second-degree atrioventricular block in a fetus at 35 weeks of gestation. The conduction disturbance was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Seven of the family members were diagnosed as suffering from sinus node dysfunction and/or various degrees of atrioventricular block. Three of them were children aged 9 months to 6 years and all were asymptomatic. The symptomatic family members were two adults. One of them had a pacemaker inserted for a complete atrioventricular block and Adam-Stokes attacks while the other had had several fainting attacks. The clinical, electrocardiographic and ultrasonographic findings of the family members are presented. Previous reports in literature have documented the dominant transmission of familial sinus node dysfunctions or of familial cardiac conduction disturbances. The coexistence of both dysfunctions in the same family has not been emphasized in previous reports. A review of these previously reported families, as well as our patients, suggests the need of investigation and follow-up of the families in which one member of any age is diagnosed as suffering from an "idiopathic" disturbance of the cardiac conduction system.
Adult↗
An outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni infection in a neonatal intensive care unit.
During a period of 2 weeks Campylobacter jejuni infection was diagnosed in seven infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. An identical serotype of Camp. jejuni was found in five of the cases. Investigations suggested that a common source of infection or infection acquired from mothers during delivery were unlikely. The dates of onset and the common serotype indicate that the outbreak may have been caused by person-to-person spread.
Campylobacter Infections↗
Soft tissue calcification: a complication of vitamin E injection.
Two cases of gross soft tissue calcification following intramuscular administration of vitamin E in two premature babies are described. The drug was administered for prevention of retinopathy of prematurity. The relation between this complication and both the dosage used and the duration of the treatment is discussed. In spite of the extent of the calcifications, a benign course was observed. Other reports about this complication are reviewed.
Calcinosis↗
Compensated humoral immunity in chronic benign idiopathic neutropenia.
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Adult↗